The High Cost of Dying

RIP * THE COST OF DYING You might think that once you expire, your financial worries are over. But alas, even in the afterlife you will still be paying your debts. Funerals rank among the most expensive purchases many people will ever make, and the burden of payment often falls on family. Learn how expensive it really is to die. FUNERAL COSTS INCLUDE... 1. Basic services fee for the funeral director and staff Services that are common to all funerals, regardless of the specific arrangement: tath PERMITS & LEGAL DOCS SHELTERING REMAINS CREMATORY/ FUNERAL PLANNING PREPARING NOTICES CEMETERY ARRANGEMENTS THIRD PARTIES 2. Charges for other services and merchandise Optional goods and services: RIP TRANSPORTING REMAINS EMBALMING & PREP GRAVESIDE SERVICE VIEWING CEREMONY/ MEMORIAL HEARSE/LIMO CASKET OUTER OR ALT. CONTAINER CREMATION OR INTERNMENT 3. Cash advances Fees charged by the funeral home for goods and services it buys from outside vendors on your behalf: ORGANISTS/ SOLOISTS FLOWERS OBITUARY PALLBEARERS OFFICIATING CLERGY SSssss$$ss$s TRADITIONAL BURIAL AVERAGE VAULT $1,000 TOTAL Up to $10,000 AVERAGE BURIAL PLOT AVERAGE CASKET $4,000+ $2,000 ...or more! TOMBSTONE $500-3,000+ CREMATION/ALTERNATIVES When no services to commemorate the deceased are desired, a direct burial or direct cremation can be arranged for under $1,000. And from $1,500 to $3,000 if it is arranged directly through a crematory. Cost of cremation ranges from $2,000 to $4,000 if arranged through a funeral home. $1,000 $2,000 $3,000 $4,000 Although the cost of cremation differs depending on location, it's almost always substantially less than the cost of a full body burial. HIDDEN EXPENSES Death Certificate $12/copy Guest Register Book $25 - $80 Obituary $200 Transportation of body to funeral home $200 - $300 Limo / Lead Vehicle $300 Urn $300 Hearse $350 Burial Clothes (women) $95 - $350 Burial Clothes (men) - $170 - $400 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 TOTAL = $2300+ In addition, there are always medical bills that vary depending on the death DEATHLY DETAILS... $10,000 %3D Playboy Enterprises founder Hugh Hefner reportedly purchased a grave space next to Marilyn Monroe at Los Angeles' Westwood Village Memorial Park for $1 MILLION! Michael Jackson's coffin is a solid bronze casket with The casket from the Xiao En Centre may be the most blue velvet lining. The Promethean has a hand-polished expensive casket in the world. Made with solid 14k gold plate finish. mahogany wood, velvet cushioned interiors and an adjustable headrest. $25,000 $36,400 8 AVG COST OF THE DEATH PENALTY = $1.26 MILLION http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro19.shtm http://www.us-funerals.com/caskets.html http://www.forbes.com/2005/10/26/lifestyle-cemeteries-graveyards-cx_bs_1027home_deadceleb05.html Lifelnsurance http://www.ehow.com/about_6454210_costtombstones.html http://www.funeralwise.com/answers/merchandise http://www.funeralwise.com/plan/costs http://www.caring.com/questions/how-much-does-cremation-cost http://www.thefuneralsite.com/ResourceCenters/Costs/How_much.html http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/death-penalty/us-death-penalty-facts/death-penalty-costfid=1101084 Quotes